ARTICLES ABOUT MAGIC SHOW BY DATE - PAGE 5

Holzhackerbuam. No, that's not what people exclaim when they see the wood-chopping musical/dance group perform. It is a group of men and women who chop and saw wood to music, creating a dance of coordination. Holzhackerbuam, which is Bavarian for "wood chopper boys," will return for this year's Augustoberfest in Hagerstown, said Charles Sekula, event co-chairman and owner of Schmankerl Stube Bavarian Restaurant. Augustoberfest is the local version of Oktoberfest, which began in Munich, Germany, in 1810 when King Ludwig I celebrated his marriage to Maria Therese by inviting nobles for a week of partying and jousting, Sekula said.

By JENNIFER FITCH waynesboro@herald-mail.com CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Brett A. Myers is fond of saying that he can only do tricks while God does miracles. The 20-year-old's performances mix the Gospel with the "How did he do that?" and "Where did it go?" expected from a magic show. Myers, of BAMmagic Ministries, took his show and tricks, which have been refined since age 14, to his home congregation of Chambersburg Church of the Brethren on Sunday evening. He is scheduled to do so again at 7 tonight in a donation-only show open to the public.

In March, two fundraisers were held to support the Washington County Child Advocacy Center, also known as The Safe Place, at the Walnut Street Medical Center in Hagerstown. On March 11, the Home Builders Association of Washington County hosted the third annual benefit concert and auction at Hagerstown Community College in support of the Child Advocacy Center. The concert featured local recording artist Tori Anderson and Possum Holler, and nationally known recording artist Exile.

Magic means money this weekend for two organizations in the Tri-State region. Proceeds from a touring magic show - with stops in Hagerstown and Chambersburg, Pa. - will go to the Washington County Child Advocacy Center, known as Safe Place, and the Chambersburg Exchange Club, said R.G. Smith, the show's producer and master of ceremonies. The two-hour show will be at The Maryland Theatre on Friday night; there will be two performances at The Capitol Theatre on Saturday. The featured magicians are: · Tony Chapek, who specializes in high-tech magic and comedy he calls "interactive media magic.

Friends of Safe Place, Washington County's child advocacy center, will present an evening of comedy and magic featuring nationally recognized and award-winning magicians at 7 p.m. Friday, March 16, at The Maryland Theatre. Proceeds from the show will support Safe Place. The center provides comprehensive services to children who have been physically or sexually abused. The evening's acts are Antje Pode, Ron Geoffries, Tony Chapek, Jay Sterling and Lynn Trefzger. Germany's Pode combines the skills of a juggler with the artistry of a high-wire act. She and her performances have been described as "a breath-taking show, the height of an evening variety"; "the queen of the air, a true Cirque du Soleil-style artist"; and "gravity takes a vacation as you watch with open-mouthed awe. " From New Jersey, Geoffries, known as the magic comedian, works a variety of venues, including cruise ships and corporate shows.

MAUGANSVILLE - The Maugansville Ruritan hopes to raise $6,000 for Boy Scout Troop 64 - the Maugansville-area troop under Boy Scouts of America - during this year's Maugansville Pride Day on Saturday, organizers said. Proceeds from the daylong festival will benefit a local charity or cause, said Jerry Overdorf, the event's co-chairman. The Maugansville Ruritan sponsors the event. Roughly 3,000 people attended the 2005 Maugansville Pride Day, now entering its 26th year, said organizer Bob Walton, a Ruritan member.

WILLIAMSPORT - The festival formerly known as C&O Canal Days officially kicks off this weekend under a new name, Williamsport Days. About 120 vendors are expected for Williamsport Days - Saturday, Aug. 26, and Sunday, Aug. 27, at Byron Memorial Park and the Cushwa Basin this year - town officials said. The town of Williamsport and the National Park Service are co-organizing the event. The town already has hosted several events, including a bike race and band concert, to help launch the official start to the inaugural festival.

HAGERSTOWN - The magic was gone. One wanted to work it out, the other was not interested. And so in 1994, it ended. Charlie James said the local magic group, the King Magic Ring, had performed for years at The Maryland Theatre. "When the theater changed hands, they weren't interested in having us back," said James, a member of the group. Until this year, that is, when Brian Sullivan became executive director of The Maryland Theatre, and reignited the relationship. So it seemed almost poetic that Saturday's show, Festival of Magic, opened with a simulated bang of dynamite as part of the act. "We are very pleased to be back," James said.